One of Ireland’s most endeared golfers has sung the praise of the country’s young superstar talent.

Eamon Darcy won four times on the European Tour along with competing in four Ryder Cups, including holing the winning putt in 1987 at Muirfield Village.

Darcy’s last success was in 1990 when he captured the then second Dubai Desert Classic and less than a year after Rory McIlroy was born.

Surprisingly, Darcy only met McIlroy for a first time this week, and that was ahead of the 25^th anniversary ‘Former Champions Challenge’.

Organisers grouped the now 61-year old Darcy with the 24-year old McIlroy, along with Australia’s Richard Green, for the ‘Challenge’.

And after playing 18 holes alongside the current World No. 6 the Enniskerry-based Darcy was very much impressed.

“Bobby Jones said about Jack Nicklaus and he in turn said it about Tiger, ‘he plays a game with which I’m not familiar’, was it a bit like that out there today?” said Darcy.

“Oh yeah, it was just a different golf course, the way he played it. He has it all, all the shots. It was wonderful to watch.   

“But, you know yourself, it was a bit of an eye-opener, coming out after the winter and not playing golf.

“Rory’s just exceptional.  He’s been doing it since he was 12.  He’s just great. He has all the shots and is doing all the right things, he’s working hard. I don’t think he has a weakness.

“Maybe sometimes he might have got a bit streaky with the putter but he’s comfortable in his own skin now and the course is set up for him, right to left.”

Since 2002 when Darcy turned 50 and concentrated full-time on the European Tour Seniors Tour Ireland has produced four Major Champions in Padraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and McIlroy.

Between them they have won seven Majors and it is an accomplishment Darcy still finds hard to fathom.

“I probably never thought we would have won so many Majors but then it was always going to happen somewhere, sometime but not to the extent where four guys would go out and win so many of them, what is it, seven?” he said.

“Padraig broke the mold at Carnoustie in 2007, he really did, and then won two more.

“Rory’s already won two and looks like winning many more.

“He’s amazing to watch. There’s very few in the world who hit the ball like Rory. And the way this course is set up, there’s probably only a handful of guys you’d back to win this week.”

Darcy arrived in Dubai not having played since last August and uncertain when he will tee-up again as he continues to struggle with a torn rotor cuff in his left shoulder.

In fact, Darcy competed using pain-killers.

However it did not stop him upstaging McIlroy near the end of the ‘Challenge’ grabbing the honour on the 17^th tee after a birdie at 16 and then retaining the privilege with a great birdie at 17.

“I holed it from about 20 feet on 16 and the from about eight feet above the hole on 17, so that was nice,” he said.

“But I was so worn out in the end as I just haven’t been playing golf.

Darcy has been working hard with Robbie Cannon, the Conditioning coach and fitness consultant who won Irish Amateur Open last summer and currently is with the Irish amateur squad in South Africa, trying to help out with his shoulder.

And in conclusion Darcy was asked what he thought about the Majlis Course that in 1990 was located on the outskirts of Dubai alongside a then two lane roadway that is now 12 lanes running through a maze of skyscrapers.

“It’s totally different, it’s so long and we’re more than 20 years older,” said Darcy.

“It’s so long and there’s no run on the ball. A couple of times I hit low drives just to get a bit of a run and it stopped. It’s up there they hit it (pointing to the sky).”